Patricia Shermot, Government Relations and Engagement Officer at Vision Federal Credit Union and Daniel Egusquiza, Community Outreach Coordinator of The Reading Public Library and Executive Director of Barrio Alegria, have recently been appointed to BCTV’s Board of Directors, according to Heather Adams, BCTV Executive Director. Their terms began July 1, 2017.

“We are so happy to welcome Trish and Daniel to the BCTV Board. They are bringing tremendous talent and energy to our organization, and we are fortunate to have their insight and enthusiastic perspective as we continue to strengthen and develop community media for Reading and Berks County,” Adams said.

Patricia Shermot represents Visions Federal Credit Union as the Government Relations and Engagement Officer. In this role she ensures that the voice of 180K members is heard by legislators in PA, NY and NJ on the state and federal level. Many times she is the research arm to answer questions regarding real cause and effect numbers and stories of how legislation has affected consumers. She also serves Visions as the business development manager and financial literacy engagement driver in schools and the community. Visions FCU provides various programs within the community and local schools to promote and educate students and consumers on budgeting, credit scores, identity theft and more.

Ms. Shermot hosted a show on BCTV a few years ago on the home buying experience with her credit union colleagues and community partners.

“The feedback we received about our program was one of the catalysts that led me to give back on the BCTV board. BCTV is doing great things for our community and we want to be a part of it.”

Daniel Egusquiza was born in Lima, Peru. He attended the University of San Marcos in Lima, where he pursued a degree in literature but did not finish because he migrated to the United States when he turned 19 years old. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Art and has always looked for ways in which art can educate, empower, and change a community. He often expresses that he is living his dream as the outreach coordinator for the Reading Public Library where he gets to talk to community members about the importance of literacy and relationship building as powerful tools to create social change.

He is also the Executive Director of Barrio Alegria, an organization that has built a platform for community transformation through the arts.

“I am not waiting for Reading to go back to what it used to be, I love it as it is; with its defects and struggles. I look toward a future where technology aids relationship building and individual’s transformations and sense of wonder. For that reason, I am excited to be part of BCTV’s board and hope to give my best to make sure that this community resource continues to grow hand in hand with the diverse Reading community.”